LAFS.2.L.3.4Archived Standard

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Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 2 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of strategies.
  1. Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
  2. Determine the meaning of the new word formed when a known prefix is added to a known word (e.g., happy/unhappy, tell/retell).
  3. Use a known root word as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word with the same root (e.g., addition, additional).
  4. Use knowledge of the meaning of individual words to predict the meaning of compound words (e.g., birdhouse, lighthouse, housefly; bookshelf, notebook, bookmark).
  5. Use glossaries and beginning dictionaries, both print and digital, to determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases.
General Information
Subject Area: English Language Arts
Grade: 2
Strand: Language Standards
Idea: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts
Cluster: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
Date Adopted or Revised: 12/10
Content Complexity Rating: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 02/14
Status: State Board Approved - Archived

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
5010010: English for Speakers of Other Languages-Elementary (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022 (course terminated))
5010020: Basic Skills in Reading-K-2 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2021, 2021 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
5010030: Functional Basic Skills in Communications-Elementary (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
5010043: Language Arts - Grade Two (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2021, 2021 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
7710013: Access Language Arts - Grade 2 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Lesson Plans

A Close Look at A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams:

A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams is a delightful story of a family who faces the hardships of life together. The focus of these reading lessons is to identify story structure and discuss how the characters responded to challenges. After students complete several learning centers about the book, they will retell the story through writing using grade-appropriate conventions.

Type: Lesson Plan

Fun With Compound Words:

In this lesson, students will learn to identify, create, and determine the meaning of compound words. They will participate in a series of engaging center activities to practice using compound words.

Type: Lesson Plan

Happy Homophone Pairs:

In this lesson, students will read homophone pairs using Dear, Deer, A Book of Homophones by Gene Barretta. Students will identify and explain common homophones using word relationships, context clues, and/or background knowledge. Students will use the homophones correctly in sentences and add illustrations to their sentences that help enhance the meaning of the homophone.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorial

Cool Context Clues:

Help Pat the Penguin use context clues to find the meanings of unknown words and phrases in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Student Center Activities

Vocabulary: Homograph Hitch:

In this activity, students will identify the meanings of homographs by playing a matching game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Compound Word Trivia:

In this activity, students will identify the meaning of compound words using their knowledge of the parts of each word.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Affix Game:

In this activity, students will make words containing affixes and use them in a sentence to show meaning while playing an affix game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Affix Match:

In this activity, students will match affixes to their meanings by playing a memory game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Make it Meaningful:

In this activity, students will determine and record the meanings of words with affixes. They will then sort them by affix meaning.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Dissect:

In this activity, students will segment words into base words and affixes to determine the meaning.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Meaningful Affixes:

In this activity, students will make words to match meanings by combining base words and affixes.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Affix Concentration:

In this activity, students will match affixes to their meanings by playing a memory game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Fill-In:

In this activity, students will choose words to complete sentences.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Semantic Map:

In this activity, students will brainstorm words related to a topic and use books and/or reference materials to answer questions about unknown words on a semantic map.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Four Square Vocabulary Map:

In this activity, students will describe a vocabulary word using a four square map.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Affix Action:

In this activity, students will produce words with affixes to complete sentences while playing a board game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: All For One:

In this activity, students will produce the multiple meanings of words and use the words in sentences that demonstrate understanding of the multiple meanings.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Ask-A-Word:

In this activity, students will demonstrate a deeper understanding of the meaning of words by completing a questionnaire.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Ask-Explain-List:

In this activity, students will demonstrate understanding of words by applying them to a variety of contexts.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Build-A-Word:

In this activity, students will add affixes to base words to make new words, then use the new words in sentences.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Choice Meanings:

In this activity, students will identify the meaning of words in context.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Cloze Encounters:

In this activity, students will choose words based on meaning to complete sentences in a cloze passage.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Context Clues:

In this activity, students will read sentences containing context clues and sort by the type of context clue.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Defining Depictions:

In this activity, students will depict words by drawing pictures that relate to their meaning.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Dictionary Cube:


In this activity, students will identify the meaning of words and word-related information using a dictionary.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Dictionary Digs:

In this activity, students will look up target words in a dictionary and record specific information.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Get a Clue!:

In this activity, students will determine the meanings of unknown words using context clues.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Inside Information:

In this activity, students will write simple definitions, sentences, and examples of target words in a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Know or No:

In this activity, students will sort words based on their understanding of the words' meanings. They will then determine the meanings of the words and record them.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Looking for Meaning:

In this activity, students will determine the meanings of unknown words and rewrite sentences from text to demonstrate their understanding.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Meaning Exchange:

In this activity, students will identify the meaning of words in context by playing a matching game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Meaning Extender:

In this activity, students will demonstrate their understanding of words by applying them to a variety of contexts.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Meaning Maker:

In this activity, students will identify unknown words, determine their meaning, and rewrite sentences to demonstrate their understanding.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Meaning Map:

In this activity, students will identify attributes of words and record them on a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Multiple Meaning Match:

In this activity, students will identify the multiple meanings of words in context.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Oh My Word!:

In this activity, students will write simple definitions, sentences, and synonyms of words on a recording sheet.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Root-A-Word:

In this activity, students will identify and sort words containing the same root.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Root-O!:

In this activity, students will produce words containing the same root and identify their meanings.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Undercover Meanings:

In this activity, students will write simple definitions, sentences, and examples of target words in a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: What Do You Mean?:


In this activity, students will match words to their meanings.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: What-A-Word:

In this activity, students will identify words to complete text.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Clues:


In this activity, students will use reference materials to develop clues about target words. They will provide the clues to a partner until the target word is identified.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Express:

In this activity, students will identify the meaning of words in context.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Filler:

In this activity, students will identify words to complete sentences.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Share:

In this activity, students will find, discuss, record, and define selected words in a text.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Web:

In this activity, students will identify the multiple meaning of words by constructing a web.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Winner:

In this activity, students will use strategies to identify the meanings of unknown words in context.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Wise:

In this activity, student will determine the meaning of words. NOTE: To fully meet the expectations of the aligned standards, students will need to identify unknown words in text they are reading and use strategies to determine the meanings of the unknown words.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Wizard:

In this activity, students will determine the meaning of words of interest in text.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Wrap:

In this activity, students will describe a target word using a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word-O-Nary:

In this activity, students will write simple definitions, sentences, and synonyms of targeted words found in content-area text.

Type: Student Center Activity

Original Student Tutorials for Language Arts - Grades K-5

Cool Context Clues:

Help Pat the Penguin use context clues to find the meanings of unknown words and phrases in this interactive tutorial.

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Original Student Tutorial

Cool Context Clues:

Help Pat the Penguin use context clues to find the meanings of unknown words and phrases in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.